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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

20 Ranked Colleges
497 Degrees Awarded
$28,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Natural Resources & Conservation is the 26th most popular major in the country with 30,341 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, natural resources and conservation graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,196 and had an average of $25,077 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 4,152 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,081 and $25,321 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 497 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in natural resources and conservation. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great natural resources and conservation programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the natural resources and conservation program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 20 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

UChicago also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Chicago Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 129 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 64 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#4

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 64 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #3 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at IU Bloomington

#5

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Purdue also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#6 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIUC has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.

Full UIUC Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#8 in overall quality

Michigan Technological University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Michigan Tech is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 15 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan Tech also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Technological University are $21,996.

Full Michigan Technological University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#9 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Illinois at Springfield is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 23 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIS has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Illinois at Springfield

#10

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin
#11 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

UW - Green Bay also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Green Bay are $19,126.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

#11

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#17 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 11 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

UW - Stevens Point also took the #17 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point are $19,178.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

#15 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UM Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 4 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UM Dearborn also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at UM Dearborn are $25,072, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Michigan - Dearborn Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#13

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204.

Full Ball State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#14

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#12 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

UWM also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UWM

#15

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Michigan State University

#14 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SIUC Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#10 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Oxford, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Oxford also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Miami University - Oxford

#18

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Cleveland State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Cleveland State University also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cleveland State University are $17,622.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Cleveland State University

#19 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. OHIO Athens is located in Athens, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OHIO Athens, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Ohio University - Athens Campus

#20

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

DePaul University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

DePaul did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul University are $19,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at DePaul

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Lynn Betts.

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